Journal of Environmental Biology Alpine Marmot Populations After

« Journal Home page : www.jeb.co.in E-mail : [email protected]

OriginalTM Research Journal of Environmental Biology TM PDlagiarism etector JEB ISSN: 0254-8704 (Print) DOI : http://doi.org/10.22438/jeb/38/5/MRN-381 ISSN: 2394-0379 (Online) CODEN: JEBIDP Alpine marmot populations after four decades of living in the glacial areas of the Făgăraş, Rodna and Retezat Mountains, Romania

Abstract Authors Info Aim : To highlight the situation of the alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) after four decades of colonisation S. Geacu and M. Dumitraşcu* in three mountain ranges of Romania: the Făgăraş, Rodna and Retezat. Department of Physical Geography, Institute of Geography, Methodology : To reach this target, summer field investigations have been conducted in various areas of Romanian Academy, 12 Dimitrie the three mountain ranges, and in the archives of central and local forest and hunting administrative units, Racoviţă Street, 023993, Sector 2, with a view to identify the data needed to establish the dynamics of these populations. Bucharest, Romania Results : A synthesis study has been made to point out the population dynamics of this rodent (Sciuridae Family), the connection between populationsCopy and the geographical conditions in the glacial areas of the three mountain groups of the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. Interpretation : A typical rodent of the Alpine regions, the alpine marmot s are perfectly integrated in thair new habitats with several colonies of these populations in each mountain group. At the same time, the species has extended its areas by up to 20 km.

*Corresponding Author Email : [email protected]

Key words Alpine marmot, Făgăraş mountain, Retezat mountain, Rodna mountain Online

Publication Info Paper received : 10.06.2016 Revised received : 29.09.2016 Re-revised received : 13.02.2017 Accepted : 28.03.2017

Introduction The current paper focuses on the analysis of the spatial and temporal dynamics of Marmota marmota in the three A rodent mammal, Marmota marmota lives in the alpine aforementioned areas in close connection with their habitat habitats of the highest mountains in Europe (Pyrenees, Alps and requirements and the conservation regime. The study was carried Carpathians). The mammal belongs to Order : Rodentia Bodwich, out for the past four decades, a period which followed species' 1821; Family : Sciuridae Gray, 1821 and Genus : Marmota introduction or re-introduction in the fauna of the Romanian Blumenbach, 1779 (Wilson and Reeder, 1993). Carpathians using the data provided by the Romanian Forest Divisions which overlapped Rodna, Făgăraş and Retezat Mountains. Studies performed in the Tatra Mountains (Bačkor 2009), Rodna Mountains (Szabo, 2010), the French and Italian Alps Study area : The present study was carried out in three of the (Allainé et al., 1994; Borgo, 2003) and the Pyrenees (Herrero et highest Romanian Carpathians Mountains: the Făgăraş and al., 1994) revealed significant information on species current Retezat in the Southern Carpathians and the Rodna Mountains distribution, dynamics and habitat requirements in the in the Eastern Carpathians (Fig. 1B), all being built mountaineous areas of Europe. predominantly of crystalline schists (Niculescu and Badea, 2006). They have the most impressive glacial relief (glacial In Romania, Marmota marmota was introduced to the cirques and valleys) of all mountain ranges in this country tallest Romanian Carpathians, which is, Făgăraş and Retezat (Niculescu et al., 1973). Springs on slopes and glacial lakes (Southern Carpathians) and Rodna (Eastern Carpathians) represent water sources for the alpine marmot. (Almăşan, 1981; Geacu, 2006). Materials and Methods As herbaceous species, the alpine marmot feeds on the short plants (Carex curvula, Juncus trifidus, Agrostis rupestris, At the time the first alpine marmots were brought into Festuca airoides, Nardus stricta, Sesleria tenuifolia and Poa Romania, the researches were focused primarily on identifying alpina) that grow in alpine meadows and are well-adapted to the first documents issued by various forestry and cynegetic cold and strong winds. It also eats the lickhens that gnaw on institutions. Later on, studies performed in the selected case- rocks, e.g. Cetraria islandica or Cladonia rangiferina, and grows studies aimed at establishing the population dynamics and at the bark of dwarf bushes such as Loiseleuria procumbens of species Copy habitat characteristics. The assessment of long-term the alpine zone. The alpine marmot also eat the fruits of some dynamics relied on the data recorded by the rangers of the Forest species like Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Divisions in the analysed mountain areas. Thereby, in 2011 and Alpine marmots are fond of sunny slopes and if nothing disturbs 2012 the authors carried out direct field observations in the areas them, they may bathe in the sun for hours on end. Between where alpine marmots used to live during summertime. Based on October to April, the animal hibernates, the entrance to the the visual observations (using binoculars) conducted during the galleries being closed with stones, grass and earth (Năidăşan, field surveys, the authors were able to map several alpine marmot 2000). Moreover, some studies refer to the impact of global habitats and movement routes. climate changes on the shortening of the hibernation period (Inouye et al., 2000, Dolenec and Dolenec, 2011). Results and Discussion It has been considered that the alpine marmot inhabited The Făgăraş Mountains : The Făgăraş Mountains covers the highest areas of Rodna, Făgăraş and Retezat Mountains 2 during the 19th century (Bielz, 1888; Csato, 1867), whereto it has approximately 1,500 km with a dominant altitude of 2,400- been disappeared between 1890 and 1900 (Călinescu, 1931; 2,500 m a.s.l., favouring the development of alpine and Filipaşcu, 1969). Species' existence in Romania was contested subalpine levels. Likewise, the massif features a significant by Rosetti-Bălănescu, (1973) by arguing the absence of any glacial relief inherited also from periglacial processes of reference to this species in the Romanian folklore or the toponimy extensive spatial dynamic (Voiculescu, 2002; Voiculescu and of this space (Benedek, 2014). However, a proposal for having the Ardelean, 2012). It also preserves the widest glacial area in species reintroduced in Romania dates back to 1949, but it was Romania, especially on the main summit which is about 70 km only in 1965, when Almăşan stressed upon the Online« need to begin long from west to east, with maximum elevation in the country: acting to this end as soon as possible » (p. 12), that their future the Moldoveanu (2,544 m a.s.l.) and the Negoiu (2,535 m a.s.l.) habitat (Făgăraş and Retezat Mountains) was being designated peaks. Here, one may see complex glacial cirques, up to 8 km- (Almăşan, 1965). The first 50 alpine marmot individuals were long glacial valleys and 25 glacial lakes (e.g. Lacul Doamnei – brought into Romania in 1973, having been captured in the Alps. Lake of the Lady 0.5 ha and Podrăgel Lake – 0.7 ha lie at 1,860 Out of the 33 animals caught in the Vanoise National Park m a.s.l. and 2,030 m a.s.l., respectively) (Niculescu, 1973; (France), 21 were released in the Făgăraş Mountains and 12 in Velcea and Popova, 1987) (Fig. 2). the Rodna Mountains. A number of 17 individuals came from Salzburg region (Austria) and were released in the Retezat At Bâlea Lac weather station (2,038 m a.s.l.), the mean Mountains (Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B). annual air temperature is only 0.2°C, with a maximum of 8.8°C) in

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 Alpine marmot in Romanian Carpathians 705

August and a minimum of -8.4°C in February (Fig. 3A) ; the mean Outstanding among the 58 glacial lakes are Bucura (10 annual rainfall reaches 1215 mm (Sandu et al., 2008). The ha), Zănoaga (29 m, the deepest glacial lake in Romania) and dominant winds blow from the north (21.1%) (Voiculescu, 2002). Gemenele (2.5 ha) (Pişota, 1971; Gâştescu, 1971; Popovici, The annual number of days with snow cover is 150, except for the 1993). At Ţarcu weather station (2,180 m a.s.l), situated in the summer and the first half of winter when no such days are neighbouring mountain sector, the mean annual air temperature registered (Fig. 3B). is negative (-0.6°C), with a maximum value in August (7.7°C) and a minimum in February (-8.6°C) (Fig. 5A). The mean annual The habitat conditions of the upper Făgăraş Mountains precipitation sums up to 939.4 mm. The dominant wind blows are favourable to the alpine marmot. The species was introduced from the north (21.5%) and the snow cover may appear in the first in the area in July 1973, when 21 alpine marmots were brought decade of September and it lasts until July or August (Fig. 5B). from the French Alps and were released in the glacial cirque at the The annual number of days with snow cover was 190 days on sources of the Arpăşel Valley (northern slope of Făgăraş average (Dragne et al., 2004). Mountains, Sibiu County). Here, the staff of the Arpaş Forest Range built man-made galleries in order to host them and The upper part of the Retezat Mountains was established prohibited the grazing of farm animals. This action enjoyed the in 1935 as the first national park in Romania (10,000 ha). support of the Inspection for the Economy of Hunting of the Currently, the surface of this protected area has been extended to Ministry of Forest Economy and Building Materials (Almășan, 38,047 ha, of which 1,630 ha is covered by Gemenele Scientific 1981). At the beginning, the alpine marmots settled at 1,900- Reserve. In 1973, 17 alpine marmots, brought from the Austrian 2,000 m a.s.l., subsequently extending their area at higher Alps, were released in Gemenele Scientific Reserve, the elevations. The animals soon left the man-made galleries, digging endeavour being supported by the Commission for the themselves others in the source area of the Arpăşel Valley. In Monuments of Nature of the Romanian Academy, and by the 1981, their number had increased to some 100 individuals in the Strasbourg-based European Council of Information for Nature Arpăşel glacial cirque. The locals would name the place "Alpine Protection. Shortly after, all the individuals introduced at the site Marmot Hollow" (Almăşan, 1981). named « Faţa Retezatului » (The Retezat Frontface) moved to the Bucura glacial cirque (the homonymous lake lying at 2,041 m By the end of 1980, the animals expanded their area a.s.l.), because of a Vipera berus reptile, whose bite is fatal for the eastwards in the eastern sector of Făgăraş Mountains (Braşov alpine marmotCopy (Almăşan et al., 1986). Later, on, the species County); in 1989, about 40 specimens were found to live there. would expand its territory in the neighbourhood, namely the Overall, in the Făgăraş Mountains, 100 individuals were signalled Gemenele glacial cirque, and also in the vicinity of the lakes in 1989 of which 65 remained in 1991 and around 70 in 1993. Ştirbu, Tăul Agăţat and Tăul Negru. Consequently, the alpine marmots shifted to the southern slopes, extending their habitat towards west (up to 9 km as far as the Field surveys and scientific literature (Almăşan, 1986; glacial cirques of Negoiu and Şerbota peaks) and east (e.g. Benedek, 2006) revealed that glacial cirques are the favourite towards the Podrăgel glacial cirque). In 2005, the Făgăraş habitats for the alpine marmots. The main glacial lakes in the Mountains held 240 specimens of which 190 on the northern Retezat Mountains in the surrounding of which alpine marmots slopes (115 in Sibiu County and 75 in Braşov County) and 50 on were observed is described in the Table 1 (Gâştescu, 1971). the southern slopes (Argeş County). As a matter of fact, the first alpine marmots were introduced in Sibiu County, but very near to Numerous specimens occurred in the glacial cirque that its boundaries with Braşov and Argeş counties. Apart from Arpăşel hosts lakes Bucura, Ana and Lia. In 1978, alpine marmots were glacial cirque, specimens could be seen also in the glacial cirques seen at 2,200 m a.s.l below the Slăveiu Mare Peak (2,346 m Albota, Arpăşelul Mare, Şerbota, Doamnei, Podrăgelul, Laiţa and a.s.l.); in 1980, they were found roamed in Judele Mount, too Târla Mare. In 2014, this mountain sector held 373 individuals (2,398 m a.s.l.), but also near the Tăul Ascuns Lake. In 1981, the (57.6% in Sibiu County, 27.9% in Brașov County and 14.5% in Argeș County), 85.5% of the observed individuals are found on Table 1 : Main characteristics of some glacial lakes in the Retezat the northern slope. Mountains (Gâştescu, 1971) The Retezat Mountains : The Retezat MountainsOnline are situated No. Lake Surface (ha) Altitude (m a.s.l) on the west side of the Southern Carpathians. The highest 1. Bucura 8.9 2,041 peaks are Peleaga (2,509 m a.s.l.), Retezat (2,482 m a.s.l.) and 2. Gemenele 2.5 1,900 2 Bucura (2,433 m a.s.l.). The whole area extends over 453 km , 3. Tăul Negru 4.0 2,025 but the alpine relief (above 1,800 m) represents 27% of the 4. Ana 3.1 1,979 surface (Urdea, 2001). In the central part of the Retezat 5. Lia 1.3 1,930 Mountains, the main landscape features are shaped by the 6. Ştirbu 0.9 2,090 glacial relief which consists of rocky peaks and crests, huge glacial cirques with vast screes, and glacial valleys (Niculescu, 7. Tăul Ascuns 0.4 2,180 1973; Urdea, 2000) (Fig. 4). 8. Tăul Agăţat 0.1 2,208

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 706 S. Geacu and M. Dumitraşcu

A B

Salzburg Rodna

Parc national Retezat de la Vanoise Fagaras

Fig. 1 : (A) Alpine marmots regions of origin and colonisation sites in 1973; (B) PositionCopy of case- study area in Romanian Carpathian Range

Online

Fig. 2 : Glacial relief in Făgăraş Mountains (source: Niculescu, 1973, map modified by the authors)

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 Alpine marmot in Romanian Carpathians 707

Annual average number of snow cover days=150 days number

monthly temperature annual temperature

Fig. 3 : (A) Monthly variation of air temperature and (B) number of snow cover days at Bâlea Lac weather station (1961-2000)

Glacial cirques

Glacial troughs

Glacio-nivation cirques CopyMoraines Glacial lakes

Levelled surfaces

Crests

Zone of alpine meadows with glacial and cryonival relief Forest zone

Fig. 4 : Glacial relief in the Retezat Mountains (source:Online Niculescu, 1973, map modified by the authors) Retezat Mountains held about 100 individuals, 77 in 1985, 140 in and Kucsicsa, 2011; Kucsicsa, 2013). The glacial topography 1989 and 100 in 1992. In 2005, a number of 200 alpine marmots includes glacial cirques (the Pietrosu, Buhăiescu, Repede, were recorded, while in 2014 increased upto 224. Negoiescu, Cimpoiesei, Bistriţei Aurii, Ineu and Lala), moraines (in the Lala, Bila, Putredu and Bistricioara valleys), erratic blocks The Rodna Mountains are the highest mountains in the and glacial valleys (Fig. 6). area located in the northern part of the Eastern Romanian The number of glacial lakes, which lie behind some Carpathians, Because of their high altitude, the Rodna Mountains moraine deposits, is around 30. They are located between 1,750 are affected by the Quaternary glaciations featuring one of the m a.s.l and 1,950 m a.s.l (Gâştescu 1971; Kucsicsa 2013), over a most imposing alpine landscapes in the Romanian Carpathians surface-area under 0.5 ha and maximum depth of 5.2 m with best preserved glacial and periglacial landforms (Dragotă (Buhăiescu II Lake) (Chiş, 2010). In the alpine area, the mean

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 708 S. Geacu and M. Dumitraşcu

Annual average number of snow cover days=190 days number

monthly temperature annual temperature

Fig. 5 : (A) Monthly variation of air temperature and (B) number of snow cover days at Ţarcu weather station (1961-2000)

Copy

Peaks Glacial cirques Glacial troughs Moraines Glacial lakes Zone of alpaine meadows with glacial and cryonival relief Mountain pine shrubs Forest zone Rockey scarps Rodna National Park boundary Settlements

Fig. 6 : Glacial relief in the Rodna Mountains (source: Kucsicsa, 2013, map modified by the authors) annual air temperature is negative (-1.3˚C at overOnline 2,300 m a.s.l.), The Rodna Mountains stands as the only west-east but at Iezer weather station (1,770 m a.s.l.) the annual average ridge (20 km long) that still preserves traces of Quaternary temperature is 1.5°C (Kucsicsa, 2013; Chiş, 2010). The monthly glaciation, which has high population of alpine marmots. The mean temperature is negative between November and March animals were released close to the tallest peak: Pietrosu (2,303 (Fig. 7A). The mean annual precipitation is 1263 mm. m a.s.l.). Where glacial cirques and valleys, as well as 30 glacial lakes are present. In 1973, shortly after the species had been Snow cover may appear in the first decade of September introduced in the Făgăraş Mountains, 12 individuals from the and last until July or August (Fig. 7B). The annual number of days same batch originating in the French Alps were released on the with snow cover was 175 days on average (Dragne et al., 2004; south/south-west slope of Mount Pietrosu (Almășan, 1981) Kucsicsa, 2013). The dominant winds (15%) blow from the south- inside Pietrosu Mare Reserve created in 1962 and given a west speeding up with 3.5-4.5 msec-1 on average (Kucsicsa, 2013). Biosphere Reserve status in 1979 (Bălteanu et al., 2006). This

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 Alpine marmot in Romanian Carpathians 709

Annual average number of snow cover days=175 days number

monthly temperature annual temperature

Fig. 7 : (A) Monthly variation of air temperature and (B) number of snow cover days at Iezer weather station (1961-2000)

Copy

Fig. 8 : Alpine marmot population dynamics in the three Romanian Carpathian ranges (1973-2014)

development benefitted from the support of the former In June 1977, the species extended its territory Bucharest-based Inspection for Game Economy. eastwards, to Bistriţa-Năsăud County, alpine marmots being seen in the direction of Gărgălău Mount (2,159 m a.s.l.). In 1980, In the beginning, Reserve guards wouldOnline build the the Rodna Mountains alpine marmots numbered 60 individuals animal galleries. But, introducing, species introduction was (grouped into 8 colonies), the population nearly doubling till 1983. considered to be a failed attempt given that the galleries had In 1989, they counted 130 individuals (120 specimens in the been deserted. However, two years later, in 1975, a first alpine Maramureş County sector and only 10 in Bistriţa-Năsăud). The marmot colony was detected at some distance (from the early year 1992 registered 180 alpine marmots, 165 in Maramureş and place of release), namely in Zănoaga Mare glacial cirque on the 15 in Bistriţa-Năsăud County. northern side of Mount Pietrosu (Pânzariu, 1993). It appeared that the alpine marmots had settled from 1,700, m a.s.l. (the In 1993, some individuals were signalled out east of the initial introduction site) to 1,800-2,000 m, some individuals were Puzdrele Peak (2,191 m a.s.l.), in the Negoiescu Valley. In 1999, observed at 2,200 m a.s.l. the Rodna Mountains alpine level numbered 180 specimens and

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 710 S. Geacu and M. Dumitraşcu around 210 in 2005. Most entrances are oriented to the East, South, South-East and South-West (Szabo, 2010). In 2011, 150 Newly reintroduced in the Carpathian Mountains, and in specimens were observed, all of them on northern slopes in Romania for that matter, alpine marmots have been protected all Maramureș County. along in the Retezat Mountains National Park, the Pietrosul Rodnei Nature Reserve and Arpăşelului Valley Nature Reserve, the firs sites The species was seen in the glacial cirques Zănoaga of their release. Under Law No. 13, 1993 on Romania's adherence Mare, Iezer and Buhăescu, in the Pietrosu Mare and Piatra to the Convention for the Conservation of Wildlife and Natural Neagră mountains, reaching as far as Gărgălău Mount to the Habitats, adopted in Bern in 1979, the alpine marmot becomes a east. The guards of the Rodna Mountains National Park name protected animal. Thus, alpine marmot areas in the Retezat and Zănoaga Mare glacial cirque « The Marmot Pit ». The the Rodna Mountains are nowadays part of the homonymous expansion of the species` area towards the Corongiş (1,987 m National Parks established in 1935 and 1990, respectively (Buza a.s.l.) and Ineu (2,279 m a.s.l.) Mountains, which means by et al., 2005). Protection of the alpine marmot species is stipulated some 20 km east was reported (Kucsicsa, 2013). In addition, also by Law No. 462, 2001, on the regime of protected areas and the presence of marmots was also indicated in the surrounding conservation of natural habitats, of wild flora and fauna. areas, in the north-bordering Maramureş Mountains, more precisely just below the Toroioaga Peak (1,930 m a.s.l) situated Acknowledgments towards the southern end (Nădișan, 2000). The researches were undertaken in the framework of the project The life of these animals (very fond of quiet) was entitled Studies on the national parks in Romania supported by disturbed by grazing and tourism, some of them being the Romanian Academy (2011-2012). Thanks are due also to occasionally killed, e.g. one in 1977 by shepherd dogs close to Eng. P. Gărgărea from the National Forest Administration. Buhăescu Lake, and another in 1978 near the Gărgălău Peak (both in the Rodna Mountains). References

Although proposals for the introduction of this species in Allainé, D., I. Rodrigue, M. Le Berre and R. Ramousse : Habitat preferences of Alpine marmots, Marmota marmota. Canadian J. of Romania's fauna had been made as early as 1949, it was only in Zoo.Copy, 72, 2193–2198 (1994). 1965 that the Făgăraş and the Retezat mountains were chosen Almăşan, H.: Dispariţia, reaclimatizarea şi aclimatizarea unor specii de as population sites. In the early 1970s some would suggest the animale sălbatice în România [Disappearance, reacclimatization Rodna Mountains, as well. and acclimatization of wild animal species in Romania]. Vânătorul şi Pescarul Sportiv, 4, 12-14 (1965) (in Romanian). Despite the fact that galleries to shelter them had been Almăşan, H.: Situaţia actuală a răspândirii marmotei în România [The present situation of alpine marmots distribution in Romania]. built in all the three massifs, the alpine marmots quickly deserted Vânătorul şi Pescarul Sportiv, 6, 8-9 (1981) (in Romanian). them, digging themselves new ones, closer to, or remoter from Almăşan, H., V. Soran, M. Borcea, D. Munteanu and G. Coldea : those made by man, the new environment was seemingly better Consideraţii privind structura trofică a biomurilor din Munţii Retezat and more propitious. [Considerations regarding the trophic structure of biomes in the Retezat Mountains]. Ocrotirea Naturii şi a Mediului Înconjurător, The alpine marmot sites are shared also with the Bucureşti, XXX , 13-24 (1986). chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) and although both species Bačkor, P.: Current distribution of the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) are herbivorous, yet the wealth of food makes them live in in the Nízke Tatry Mts., Slovakia (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Lynx, 40, 5- ecological « harmony », as it were. Thereby, in case of 13 (2009). Bălteanu, D., M. Dumitraşcu, D. Ciupitu and S. Geacu : Natural protected danger, alpine marmots would worn the chamois of an areas. In Romania. Space-Society-Environment. Edit. Academiei enemy approach by emitting more sonorous and powerful Române, Bucureşti, pp. 328-340 (2006). signals than the latter do. Benedek, A. M.: Dynamics of small mammals' communities (Insectivora and Rodentia) from Retezat Mountains National Park (Romania). The three populations introduced in 1973 increased Trav. Mus. Nat. Hist. Natl.“Gr. Antipa, 49, 401-409 (2006). fifteen times over the last four decades, fromOnline 50 to 747 Benedek, A. M.: Comunităţi de mamifere mici (ordinele Soricomorpha şi individuals, namely 50% in Rodna, 30% in Retezat and 20% in Rodentia) din Transilvania [Communities of small mammals Făgăraş mountains (Fig. 8). (Soricomorpha and Rodentia Orders) in Transylvania]. Editura Universităţii "Lucian Blaga" Sibiu (2014). A typical alpine rodent, the alpine marmot got perfectly Bielz, E. A.: Die Fauna der Wierbeltiere Siebenbürgens nach ihrem integrated into the new habitats of alpine landforms and alpine gegenwartigen Stande. Verhandlungen und Mittheilungen des Siebenbürgischen Vereins für Naturwissenschaften zu meadows of the three mountain zones, each mountain range Hermanstadt, 38, 15-36 (1888). hosting several alpine marmot colonies. They would extend their Borgo, A.: Habitat requirements of the Alpine marmot Marmota mannota areas (up to 20 km) in other favourable zones, most often being in reintroduction areas of the Eastern Italian Alps. Formulation and seen in the screes adjoining the alpine meadows where they validation of habitat suitability models. Acta Theriologica, 48, found shelter and food. 557–569 (2003).

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017 Alpine marmot in Romanian Carpathians 711

Buza, M., S. Geacu and M. Dumitraşcu : Die Nationalparks in Rumänien Nădişan, I.: Pietrosul Rodnei – Rezervaţie a Biosferei [Pietrosul Rodnei – im Kontext der EU-Erweiterung. Ein Überblick [The National Parks Biosphere Reserve]. Edit. Muzeul Judeţean Maramureş, Baia in Romania in the context of European Union Enlargement. A Mare (2000) (in Romanian). cultural cross-section]. Europa Regional, Leipzig, 13,115-122 Niculescu, G.: Procese de modelare actuală, relieful glaciar şi crionival, (2005), (in German). [Present-day processes, glacial and periglacial relief], Plate III-2 in Călinescu, R. : Mamiferele României. Repartiţia şi problemele lor Atlas R. S. România Inst. Geogr., Edit. Academiei Române, biogeografice – economice [The mammals of Romania : The Bucureşti (1973) (in Romanian). spread and their biogeographicnand economic concerns]. Niculescu, Gh, and L. Badea : The Romanian Carpathian Mountains and Buletinul Ministerului Agriculturii şi Domeniilor, 251, 1-103. (1931) the Transylvanian Tableland. In Romania. Space-Society- (in Romanian). Environment. Edit. Academiei Române, Bucureşti, pp. 60-69 Chiş, V.T.: Geographical introductory characterization of the Rodna (2006). mountains - Rodna Mountains National Park (Eastern Pânzariu, G.: Marmota (Marmota marmota L.) în Munţii Rodnei, după 20 Carpathians, Romania), Transylv. Rev. Syst. Ecol. Res., 9,1-14 de ani de la colonizare [The Marmot (Marmota marmota L.) in the (2010). Rodna Mountains, 20 years after the settlement], Ocrotirea Naturii Csató, von: A Retyezát helyviszoni és természetrajzi tekintetben [The şi a Mediului Înconjurător, Bucureşti, 37, 11-18 (1993). local conditions and natural history context of Retezat]. Erd. Muz. Pişotă, I.: Lacurile glaciare din Carpaţii Meridionali [The glacial lakes in Egyl. Evk., 4, 75-76 (1866-1867) (in Hungarian). the Southern Carpathians]. Edit. Academiei Române, Bucureşti, Dolenec, Z. and P. Dolente : Influence of the local spring warming on the (1971) (in Romanian). breeding phenology in blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) in Croatia. J. Popovici, I.: Parcul Naţional Retezat. Studii ecologice [Retezat National Environ Biol., 32, 625-627 (2011). Park. Ecological studies]. Edit. West Side, Braşov (1993) (in Dragne, D., S. Cheval and M. Micu : The snow cover in the Romanian Romanian). Carpathians and the influencing factors. Analale Universităţii de Rosetti-Bălănescu, C.: Despre neprezenţa marmotei în Carpaţi Vest din Timişoara, XIV, 145-159 (2004). româneşti. [About the nonexistence of alpine marmot in the Dragotă, C.S. and G. Kucsicsa : Global climate change-related Romanian Carpathians]. Ocrot. Nat, 17., 211-215. (1973) (in particularities in the Rodnei Mountains National Park. Carpathian Romanian). J. Earth Enviro. Sci., 6 , 43-50 (2011). Sandu I., V. Pescaru, I. Poiană, A. Geicu, I. Cândea and D. Ţâştea : Clima Filipaşcu, Al.: Marmota în sălbăticiuni din vremea strămoşilor noştri [The României [The Climate of Romania]. Edit. Academiei Române, alpine marmot in the wilderness if our ancestors]. Edit. Ştiinţifică, Bucureşti (2008) (in Romanian). Bucureşti, (1969) (in Romanian). Szabo, B.M.: Data on the distribution of Marmota marmota (Rodentia, Gâştescu, P.: Lacurile din România, Limnologie regională [The Lakes of Copy Sciuridae) from the Rodna Mountains National Park (Eastern Romania. Regional Limnology]. Edit. Academiei Române, Carpathians, Romania). Transylv. Rev. Syst. Ecol. Res., 9, 205- Bucureşti, (1971) (in Romanian). Geacu, S.: Caracteristicile faunei terestre a Românie [Characteristics of 210 (2010). the terrestrial fauna of Romania]. Terra, XXXV, 17-23 (2006) (in Urdea, P.: Munţii Retezat. Studiu geomorfologic [The Retezat Mountains. Romanian). Geomorphological study], Edit. Academiei Române, Bucureşti Herrero, J., R. García-González and A. García-Serrano : Altitudinal (2000) (in Romanian with English summary) distribution of Alpine marmot (Marmota mannota) in the Pyrenees, Urdea, P.: Glacial relief and pleistocene glaciation in Retezat Mountains Spain/France. Arctic Alpine Res., 26, 328-331, (1994). (Transylvanian Alps, Romania). Geographica Pannonica, 5, 4-7 Inouye, D.W., B. Barr, K.B. Armitage and B.D. Inouye : Climate change is (2001). affecting altitudinal migrants and hibernating species. Proc. Nat. Velcea, V. and A. Popova-Cucu : Munţii Făgăraş-Iezer [The Făgăraş- Acad. Sci. USA, 97, 1630-1633 (2000). Iezer Mountains]. In : Geografia României. Vol. 3, Edit. Academiei Kucsicsa, G. : Parcul Naţional Munţii Rodnei. Relaţii om-mediu [The Române, Bucureşti (1987) (in Romanian). Rodna Mountains National Park. Human-environment Voiculescu, M. and F. Ardelean : Snow avalanche - disturbance of high interactions], Edit. Universitară, Bucureşti (2013) (in Romanian mountain environment. Case study - the Doamnei glacial valley the with English summary). Făgăraş Massif-Southern Carpathians, Romanian Carpathians, Law no. 13 on the adhesion of Romania to the Convention regarding Carpathian J. of Earth Environ. Sci., 7, 95-108 (2012). European wild life and natural habitats conservation adopted in Voiculescu, M. : Studiul potenţialului geoecologic al Masivului Făgăraş şi 1979 in Bern, Romanian Government, Monitorul Oficial al protecţia mediului înconjurător [The study of the geoecologic României, 62, 25 martie 1993, Bucureşti (in Romanian). potential of the Făgăraş Massif and environmental protection]. Law no. 462 on the regime of natural protected areas and the Edit. Mirton, Timişoara (2002) (in Romanian). conservation of natural habitats, wild flora and fauna, Romanian Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder : Mammals species of the World. A Government, Monitorul Oficial al României, 433,Online 2 august 2001, taxonomic and geographic reference. Smithsonian Institution Bucureşti (in Romanian). Press. Washington and London (1993).

Journal of Environmental Biology, September 2017